Armenia

Standing next to the Cascade Complex

Greetings from Ibis Yerevan Center in Armenia.

I arrived safely in my hotel last night around 7pm local time. My first impressions of Yerevan are mesmerizing. Very developed city. Westernized brands around including Burger King, Armani, New Yorker, and Adidas. Most of all, many young people in Yerevan speak English.

To provide some context, Armenia is a former republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). There is a massive presence of Russian residents and tourists here. Many young Russians are currently fleeing the Putin regime in Russia right now. Russian is a common language here along with Armenian and English.

I freshened up last night and met my Russian friends Yana and Evgeni at a restaurant called Yerevan Tavern, only about a 10-15 min walk from my hotel. I met Yana’s brother Dennis and their friend Sapa. 

We enjoyed an evening full of delicious food, wine, live music, and some topics on the situation in Russia now on Putin and Ukraine. It seems like most Russian tourists I meet now have only been able to openly discuss fleeing Russia currently. Thankfully, they have been very open, honest, and direct about what’s happening right now. While Canadian government and the West don’t get along with Russia now, Yana, Evgeni, Dennis, and I have humanized each other and explored Yerevan walking after dinner.

We took a stroll to the famous Cascade Complex Steps in Yerevan. At nighttime the steps are lit up bright and have breathtaking views. 

After engaging in more in-depth dialogues, we parted ways and wished them all a brighter and better future and that I was with them and the people of Russia and not their government. 

I then explored the main square next to my hotel and spotted the Opera House of Yerevan. I met a group of five local Armenian men and women and engaged in a lengthy dialogue with them. They spoke English fluently and were so curious to learn about me being from Canada and why I’m visiting Armenia and the rest of the Caucasus region. I was provided some history of Armenia and how significant it is culturally and historically for many groups of people including Russians, Turks, Persians, Greeks, Lebanese, Christians, and Jews. 

For historical and significance context, Armenia is the oldest adopted Christian country in the world. Christianity is a custom here and there are churches everywhere and Christians from countries like Greece, Lebanon, Georgia, and Persian Christians in Iran always visit Armenia. 

I went back to the hotel where I messaged my lovely Just Go contact Talitha, who lives in Netherlands. She is infatuated by my travels and wants to travel with me one day. 

This morning I woke up after sleeping in and went to a delicious restaurant called Mayrig. A European style restaurant, I had a delicious Armenian omelette and cheese dish with coffee and Armenian cheese platter. 

I then went to the Cascade Complex where I made the climb to the top. Unfinished, yet fascinating, I traversed up to the top in the heat and felt exhausted. I met a couple from Russia named Michael and Iliana. Michael and I talked more about Russia and them leaving to live in Georgia. 

I sat down with two local Armenian women for a few minutes. They were so curious as to why I was in Armenia being from Canada. In this part of the world, it is unusual for Canadians (and Americans) to visit and I told them the same thing I told all my loved ones back home. I’m curious and there to learn and build bridges. 

I walked back down the Cascade and back to my hotel. I have a free day and may go out again to explore more. 

My G Adventures Tour begins tomorrow evening in Yerevan and will take us through Echmiadzin, Khor Virap, Garni, Mount Ararat, Lake Sevan & Hagphat. Our CEO will be a local Armenian in Armenia and will be changing CEOs to a local Georgian when we get to Georgia. 

Standing in Republic Square